Erfjord

Erfjord is a former municipality in Rogaland county, Norway. The 132 km2 municipality existed from 1914 until 1965. It encompassed the area around the Erfjorden in the southwestern part of the present-day municipality of Suldal. The administrative centre of the municipality was the village of Hålandsosen, where the Erfjord Church is located.

History
The municipality of Erfjord was created on 1 January 1914, when the municipality of Jelsa was split in two: the western part remained as Jelsa, and the eastern part became Erfjord. Initially, Erfjord had 617 inhabitants. On 1 January 1965, a major municipal consolidation took place due to the recommendations of the Schei Committee. Erfjord municipality ceased to exist and it was merged with the municipalities of Sand and Suldal as well as part of the municipalities of Jelsa and Imsland to form the new (much larger) municipality of Suldal. At the time of its dissolution, Erfjord had 610 residents.

Name
The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Erfjord farm (Elrifjǫrðr or Æðrafjǫrðr) since the first Erfjord Church was built there. The meaning of the first element of the name is uncertain, but there are two strong possibilities. The first possibility is that it comes from the word which means "alder", a type of common tree in the area (the more modern local name is ør which sounds a lot like Er-). The other main possibility is that it comes from the word which means "eider", a local type of waterfowl. The last element is which means "fjord".

Government
While it existed, this municipality was responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment, social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. During its existence, this municipality was governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor was indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council.

Municipal council
The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Erfjord was made up of representatives that were elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the final municipal council was as follows: